Spain

Spanish police detain nine Basque separatist activists

Spanish police detain nine Basque separatist activistsVitoria, Spain  - Spanish police detained nine people overnight on charges of cooperating with illegal Basque political formations linked to terrorism, police sources said Friday.

The nine were held in several locations around Spain's northern Basque region.

The detainees were believed to have links with illegal separatist parties including Batasuna, which was banned in 2003 as the political wing of the militant group ETA, and ANV and PCTV, which were outlawed in 2008 as the successors of Batasuna.

Spain and Portugal defend welfare state in time of crisis

Spain and Portugal defend welfare state in time of crisis Zamora, Spain  - Spain and Portugal on Thursday stressed the need for social policies and protection of employment during the ongoing economic crisis.

The labour market and welfare state must not be made to pay for the deficient functioning of the international financial system, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said at a joint press conference with his Portuguese counterpart Jose Socrates.

The two Socialist premiers as well as 12 Spanish and 13 Portuguese ministers attended a bilateral summit in Zamora, northern Spain.

Spanish police seize 81 works attributed to Salvador Dali

Spanish police seize 81 works attributed to Salvador DaliMalaga, Spain - Spanish police have seized 81 works attributed to surrealist artist Salvador Dali (1904-89), some of which may have been stolen while others are fake, police said Thursday.

The works were confiscated at a hotel in the southern town of Estepona where they were exhibited for sale. Police arrested the French organizer of the exhibition.

The works included lithographies, textiles, bas-reliefs, cutlery and sculptures, including a three-metre elephant statue which was on sale for 1.2 million euros (1.6 million dollars).

Spanish siesta is dying out, poll shows

Spain FlagMadrid - Spaniards' traditional afternoon nap, the siesta, is on the decline, a poll showed

Spying scandal rocks Spanish opposition

Spying scandal rocks Spanish oppositionMadrid - An alleged spying scandal was Thursday rocking Spain's main opposition conservative People's Party (PP) against a backdrop of underlying power struggles.

The Madrid regional government used former police officers to spy on the movements and meetings of mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon's deputy and on a regional senior official close to PP leader Mariano Rajoy, the daily El Pais claimed.

The spying would have occurred in 2008 during a power struggle between Madrid regional Prime Minister Esperanza Aguirre and Ruiz-Gallardon, who are the main candidates to succeed Rajoy.

Valencia beat Sevilla; Barcelona reserves held to draw by Espanyol

Valencia beat Sevilla; Barcelona reserves held to draw by EspanyolMadrid  - The quarter-finals of the Spanish King's Cup produced two contrasting first-leg clashes on Wednesday: an epic 3-2 win for Valencia over Sevilla, followed by a colourless 0-0 draw between crosstown rivals Espanyol and Barcelona.

Holders Valencia came from 2-1 down to score a dramatic win, thanks to late goals from Ruben Baraja and Juan Mata.

Valencia had taken a sixth-minute lead through David Villa, taking advantage of a schoolboy mistake from Adriano.

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